Welcome to the Penn State Hershey Eating Disorders Program

The professionals at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital offer a full range of treatment options for children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders. Conditions treated include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Other Non-Specific Eating Disorders. Who should be referred to these programs? Warning signs and symptoms include: preoccupation with food and weight, distortion of body image, restriction of food intake, vomiting after eating and loss of menstrual periods. While criteria for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are well established, it is increasingly evident that many patients especially adolescents may present with symptoms of an eating disorders, that do not fulfill the complete criteria. More...

Research currently being conducted at the Penn State Hershey Eating Disorders Program:

Eating Disorders, Self-Esteem, and Sports Involvement in Female Adolescents: A Comparison Between the General Pediatric Population and the Eating Disorders / Adolescent Medicine Clinic

The Effects of Written Emotional Disclosure on Eating Disorder Pathology in a Clinical Eating Disordered Population

Frequency of diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in patients who are of the Anabaptist faith (such as Amish or Mennonite, for example)

The Problem-Solving Approach of Adolescent Girls Diagnosed with an Eating Disorder: Toward a Greater Understanding of Control

The Utility of Human Figure Drawing in the Characterization of Cognitive and Emotional Features of Eating Disorders

Family & Friends Support Group

for our patients, family members and friends

Beginning Wednesday November 12th 5:30-6:30

Please gather in the waiting room by 5;30 pm.

Questions? Contact Barb Gershenson, Ph.D. at (717 )531-7235

Program Highlights

Child and young adolescent partial hospitalization/day treatment program for eating disorders. Patients ages 8 through 15 are treated in a supportive, family-based environment with a multi-disciplinary team. Our staff is experienced in the care of these challenging children and teens. A school component is included during the school year and families have the opportunity to stay at Ronald McDonald House which is nearby. We are currently accepting referrals for this innovative program. Please call 717-531-7230 for referrals and more information.

Intensive outpatient program and partial hospitalization program for older adolescents and adults at our treatment facility in Hershey. These multi-disciplinary programs offer treatment for patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders in a supportive and nurturing environment.

If the Lancaster office would be more convenient for you and you would like more information, please let us know. Our regular contact number will remain the same at 717-531-7235.

Reading, PA

We have a satellite office located at 108 Plaza Drive, Suite 201, Brandon, PA 19510. Medical office hours are the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month and every Wednesday. Outpatient therapy services are available on Thursdays.

If the Reading office would be more convenient for you and you would like more information, please let us know. Our regular contact number will remain the same at 717-531-7235.

We have a satellite office located at 3025 Market Street, Entrance B, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

If the Camp Hill office would be more convenient for you and you would like more information, please let us know. Our regular contact number will remain the same at 717-531-7235.

Penn State Hershey Adolescent Medicine/ and Eating Disorders programs accept practicum students on a limited basis. We can only consider graduate students who are currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in psychology or a related field, who have a demonstrated record of academic achievement, and who have the clinical training and skills to work with our programs. If you are interested, please direct any questions to Practicum-Eating-Disorder-Programs@hmc.psu.edu. Interested candidates should provide the preliminary application information (below) and e-mail a scanned copy to Practicum-Eating-Disorder-Programs@hmc.psu.edu. All preliminary applications will be reviewed and qualified candidates will be contacted to provide additional application materials. Thank you for your interest in eating disorders and our program!

Will you be receiving course credit from your graduate program for this practicum? YES NO Is your graduate college or university affiliated with The Pennsylvania State University? YES NO

Statement of Practicum Objectives

Please provide a brief (no more than one page) description of what you expect to accomplish by completing a practicum experience with the Eating Disorders Programs. Please be specific about your goals and consider objectives that are unique to you as well as those that may be applicable to the majority of students.